A Feast of Songs- Part 1 (Patreon)

Here we go, with our first multi-part story! Kass goes off on an adventure of his own to find his muse- I'm sure he'll be a big hit. Stay tuned for Part 2 in September, and thanks for your support. Enjoy!
                                                *********************************************************

With the divine beast Vah Medoh free from corruption and no longer threatening the Rito Village, the Tabantha Frontier knew a peace like nothing seen in over a hundred years. The minstrel Kass liked to think he had a part to play in that, aiding the hero who had defeated the Divine Beasts and Ganon. The rito’s reward was simple, but more than enough for him- he was finally able to return home, to his wife and five daughters in Rito Village. The big blue and gold bird was content; he loved his family, but as time wore on, he also remembered that he was an artist. He entertained his daughters every night with the ballads he had learned from his mentor, and he kept the village filled with accordion music. But soon, the same old songs began to weigh on Kass. He had been taught the old epics and all the classics, but he was beginning to crave something beyond them.

Kass was musing on this notion at the breakfast table when his wife Amali noticed him deep in thought. The green rito nudged her broad-shouldered husband with her beak. “What’s wrong, love? Your mind’s somewhere else.”

“Pah!” Kass huffed, leaning back in his seat. “Perhaps it’s silly, but I feel as if… well, I’m a footnote in my profession.”

Amali arched her brow. “What do you mean? You’re the greatest musician in the village, we all love hearing you play. Not to mention all you’ve seen, how you helped Link…”

“That’s just it. I’ve seen things, done my bit, sure- but I’m a side character in my own story, do you understand?” Kass stood up, striding over to link hands with his wife. “I’ve never really left my mark. I’ve never really created my own songs, just parroted the ones I learned so long ago from my mentor and ancient epics.”

Amali reached up to smooth the feathers on Kass’ cheek, and offered an encouraging smile. “Well… I suppose you need to go out and create your own epic, then.”

Kass blinked. “What, just like that?”

“Certainly, silly!” Amali laughed. “Kass, you’ve been moping around the house for weeks, now- I knew something was wrong, but if you need to find inspiration, I say go for it. Me and the girls will be alright for a while.”

The blue rito grinned, pulling Amali into a tight embrace. “I suppose I could plan a trip to some of the more… poignant areas of Hyrule: Lanayru Great Spring, Gerudo Town, Goron City, Hyrule Castle, for a start. I wouldn’t be gone long, just enough to write a song.”

“And I, for one, can’t wait to hear it,” Amali declared, still smiling. “Now, go on- say your goodbyes to the girls, and pack up your things. I’ll get some food ready for your travels.” Amali bumped her tail feathers against Kass’ side. “I can’t let my favorite bard turn into a starving artist, after all.”

Kass’ feathers ruffled as he blushed, then began rushing around the house to gather his things, a newfound sense of purpose and the thrill of adventure filling his heart. His leather jerkin, scarf, and accordion gathered, he stepped out onto the balcony of his home, where his wife and daughters were gathered. Gathering up his young girls in his big arms, Kass kissed them goodbye, then turned to Amali. She hefted a large travelling sack, filled with meaty rice balls, honeyed fruits and fried greens.

“Pah! All my favorites, thank you, love,” he said, pulling her in for another embrace and a peck on the cheek.

Amali smiled. “I can’t wait to hear your new masterpiece. Write to us, and let us know where to reach you!”

“Of course- I’ll be back quick as the crow flies. Goodbye, my dears!” He waved one last goodbye to his family, and took to the skies.

It was still late summer in Hyrule; the air was clear, the wind warm, gentle, but persistent. In short, it was perfect flying weather. He landed upon the battlements of the castle early on his second day, and sighed. The area was peaceful after Ganon’s defeat, but still fairly desolate. Only a tiny settlement clung to the edges of the once-grand capital, an attempt to revive the Hylian nation, but the work was daunting. The bard frowned softly as he walked around cavernous, crumbling halls of stone, his footfalls echoing. It was somber and melancholy, but still grand and left one aching for the glories of the past. Kass felt his creative spirit stir, and he sat down, pulling out ink and scroll to jot down some notes.

“In ancient halls of old… the stone was, like death, cold.... No!” Kass groaned. “Too morbid, no rhythm, too simplistic a rhyme…” He reached into his pack, mechanically grabbing one of his wife’s rice balls and biting into it.

“Mm… oh, you can search far and wide, but you’ll starve ‘til your stomach cries, because the only food for those with courage, is made right in Rito Village. Hah!” He chuckled as he polished off one of the rice balls, then another. His foot started to tap, and he pulled out his accordion as he hummed a jaunty melody. He looked down at the notes he just thought up, then at his sack, still mostly full with his wife’s cooking. He took some of the honeyed fruit, his knee bouncing to the melody playing in his head.

“Ripe and rosy, cherries red, cherries red, tart and sweet… hm.”

Hours passed by, and Kass had a half dozen songs around him until he reached again for a treat to keep his mind focused, only to come up empty. “What?”

The rito leaned over, and saw that his rations had been gone- the tightness in his jerkin left little mystery as to where it all went. Loosening the straps, he felt his overstuffed, taut middle push forward against the leather. He gave a poke, and chuckled nervously to himself when he saw just how much he had eaten.

“No matter, no matter… it’s not like I can’t fly it off,” he muttered quickly to himself. He looked up and saw that sunset wasn’t too far behind and began to gather his things. The blue rito made a note that he would need to find an inn soon, and definitely would need to stock up on more rations. He collected the songs he had scribbled out, and sifted through the pages. His epic ballad of Hyrule Castle was still on the first line, but the other five lyrics were jaunty, homey songs about home, hearth, and good food. They were hardly the songs of legend he had aimed for, but Kass looked from his full, slightly rounded middle, to his empty sack, to his notes.

“This… might be worth some experimentation,” he murmured. “Oof!” He clutched his middle as it growled from being overfed. “First, however, I really need to sleep this off…”

The next day he stopped by the recently built tavern in the settlement of the old Castle Town, its menu stocked with old, classic Hylian dishes. Kass had some doubts; after gorging himself on a week’s worth of rations, his jerkin was still not fitting quite right, but he could always  work off any excess weight by flying. He ordered a finely cooked steak rubbed in with spices, and rose-flavored Hylian Delight, a dessert popular with young couples, he had been told. It was an exquisite- never mind expensive- meal, but Kass paid it back by performing some of his usual songs. When he sat down to his large meal by candlelight, a notion of romance struck him. The meat was tender, the Hylian Delight sweet, and he thought of Amali. Sighing, a smooth, slow melody came to his mind, and he grabbed his quill and paper.

“What is a youth? Impetuous fire… what is a maid? Ice and desire, the world moves on… a rose will bloom, it then will fade, so does a youth… comes a time when one sweet smile has its seasons for a while, then love’s in love with me… huh!” 

Kass leaned back, hardly noticing he had polished off his dinner in record time. Looking over the lyrics, he nodded. A sweet, slightly melancholy tune about young love was still far from the epic he wanted to be known for, but this was a song even his old mentor would have been proud of. He then glanced at his empty plate, then to his full stomach. 

“How odd…” the rito mused. “It seems I’m inspired by food!” He stood up, stroking his beak as he began to pace around his room. “The food from home inspired me to write about hearth and kin, and the fancy steak and sweet treat made me think of romance… well!” He struck his fist against his palm, chuckling softly. “If this theory is correct, I just need to find the right, sufficiently legendary food, and I can write an epic that could truly stand the test of time!” 

Now determined, Kass sat down to write his first letter to Amali all while charting his course to the closest fine restaurant he could think of- the Seabed Inn of Zora’s Domain. He plotted his flight path to the Lanayru Great Spring, then turned in to sleep off another heavy meal.

Over the next few days, and a few more heavy meals to see if inspiration would strike on the road, Kass came to the entrance of the Zora realm. The great stone city of the zora sprawled out before him, filled with statues of dolphins and other sea creatures, elegant, blue spires, and fountains. Kass craned his neck to take it all in; he knew he was going to write something spectacular before he left here. 

The Seabed Inn was located in one of the city’s spires, offering a commanding view of the Great Spring. Taken in by the fine architecture, Kass nearly missed what the innkeeper, a blue zora named Kayden, said to him.

“I said, I noticed you’re carrying an instrument. Are you a musician, friend?” Kayden repeated, his tone polite.

“Oh! Yes, sorry. It’s been some time since I passed by this way,” Kass explained. “I forgot how lovely the Zora Domain was. May I ask, are you open to a bit of bartering?”

Kayden arched his brow. “That depends. What are you offering, and what do you want in return?”

Kass smiled, bowing his head. “I am a bard of no small talent- I’ll play for you and your guests, and you may keep the proceeds- but I would like free meals and your finest accommodations. I’ve had many years of practice singing for my supper, and I assure you, you’ll make a profit off of me.”

Kayden stroked his scaly chin thoughtfully. “Do you plan on spending many nights in Zora’s Domain, friend?”

“Oh, a few, at least. I’ve come here to work on a special project that can’t be rushed,” Kass replied.

The zora slowly nodded. “Well, here is my deal for you, bard- I’ll start you off in one of our standard rooms, and if you play as prettily as you claim, I’ll move you up to our finer rooms, with all the amenities that entails.” He offered his hand. “Do we have a deal?”

Kass shook Kayden’s hand vigorously. “You won’t regret it!”

That night, the large blue rito performed for the other guests of the Seabed, and drew in a sizable crowd. Rumors flew that Prince Sidon had heard how good the rito sang, and would not miss the next performance. Rupees poured in like water, much to Kayden’s delight.

“My friend, I see you were not exaggerating,” the innkeeper said, carrying off an armful of rupees. “You’ve earned your place- please, eat your fill, and tomorrow night I’ll treat you to the finest luxuries the Seabed has to offer.”

Kass grinned- an exotic meal from the zora, at last! He bowed graciously, his eyes roving towards the kitchen. “You’re too kind, friend.” Dodging between zora servers, Kass settled himself at a table, shrugging off his travelling clothes. He looked remarkably well-fed, but his bright, colorful plumage and broad shoulders were hiding most of the extra weight. He looked over his meal- mostly fish, unsurprisingly. It had been fried, served with peppers and greens. Kass tried an experimental first bite, but when the fish practically melted in his mouth, he grinned, eating with far more gusto. 

Soon, he found his foot tapping to a jaunty melody he was dreaming up. “Come all you young sailors, listen to me, I’ll sing ye a song of all the fish in the sea… Hm-hm-hm…” Bobbing to the rhythm, half of a fish filet hanging out of his beak, Kass wrote down the notes, and stashed it away with the other songs, and was sorely tempted to ask for seconds as he glanced at his now-empty plate.

The following day, Kayden plied Kass with a fine breakfast, which the rito was only too happy to gobble up, jotting down notes on any spare paper he could find. Watching this closely, the zora sat across from Kass. “You’ve developed quite an affinity for Zora cuisine, haven’t you, friend?”

“Mm!” Kass patted his belly, which was getting harder and harder to hide under a jerkin that barely fit anymore. “I’ve found good food is a great way to inspire me to write music. I’m hoping to create an epic that will make me the greatest musician of the age.”

“Well, after your performance last night, I had one of my best nights in ages,” Kayden chuckled, gesturing to a pile of still-to-be-counted rupees. “If I cannot hire you full time… would you consider writing a song, just for the Seabed? I’ll be happy to give you anything you want- my finest room, the best food in the city, you have but to ask.”

The rito stroked his beak. He did not start this quest just to write advertisements for businesses across Hyrule. But the thought of a truly luxurious evening, plus all the food he could need to let his creative spark grow into a brilliant flame, was hard to pass up. Finally, he grinned, holding out his hand. “You have a deal, my friend.”

Kayden shook Kass’ hand eagerly. “Fantastic!” He snatched away Kass’ plate. “Enough of this peasant food, then. Today, you will eat finer than the old Kings of Hyrule, bard!”

The rito were not known for being great lovers of luxury, even less so for vices such as gluttony, but Kass was finally able to test the limits of an appetite that had been growing larger since he first got on the road. Kayden plied him with fried fish and traditional Zora seaweed rolls, delicacies from across Hyrule, honeyed fruit very close to how Amali made it, and sweet rolls that he found particularly addicting. Somewhere along the line, he stopped writing down notes for songs, even though he had the Seabed Inn’s new melody all set in his head. Each new decadent flavor hit his tongue, and a symphony began in the rito’s mind. It was pleasure and comfort all in one. After eating a feast unparalleled in the Seabed Inn’s history, Kass felt his whole body weighed down like it had never been before. He was bloated and heavy, ponderously slow, and his stomach ached from the food he had forced into it, but the warmth flowing through his body from fine dining, and the music he dreamt up in his head kept him in high spirits as he was led to his new room. Kass flopped down on a waterbed that rocked wildly as he hit it, but eventually settled. The rito fell into a deep slumber, dreaming he was floating on a lake of fine Hylian wine.

When he awoke late the next morning, Kass finally had to take stock of what eating like a king had done to his body; no amount of feathery plumage could hide a belly that more than filled his lap, spilling over thickened hips. It obscured his view of his feet, and his strong, firm chest had softened considerably. Brushing a hand under his beak revealed a second chin, and his cheeks had rounded out, somewhat marring his profile. And yet, as he stretched out the kinks in his pear-shaped back, Kass discovered he did not care as much as he probably should. He had some vague notion of Amali nagging him for eating so recklessly, but that was a problem for another day- a song like he had never played before buzzed in his head, and he was quick to reach for ink and paper before it slipped his mind.